The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major General Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed Wase, has paid a condolence visit to Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, following the death of 37 artisanal miners in the state.
During the visit, Wase, on behalf of the 1 Division and the Nigerian Army, sympathised with the governor, families of the victims and the people of Niger State over the incident.
He expressed hope that such a tragedy would not occur again and conveyed the Army’s condolences to those affected.
Wase also informed the governor that Nigerian Army formations in Niger State would come under the newly established 9 Division from September 30, following the reorganisation of the Army’s operational structure.
The restructuring, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expanded the Nigerian Army’s divisional structure from eight to 12 divisions. The newly established 9 Division is headquartered in Ilorin and is expected to cover Kwara and Niger states.
The GOC thanked Bago for the support his administration had extended to 1 Division and the Nigerian Army, assuring the governor of continued cooperation.
Responding, Bago thanked Wase for the condolence visit and expression of solidarity, saying the gesture had strengthened the state government’s resolve to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The governor also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the creation of additional Army divisions as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
Bago commended Wase for his leadership of 1 Division and praised officers and soldiers serving in Niger State for their efforts in tackling security challenges.
He assured the GOC that the Niger State Government would continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to improve security across the state.
The visit was disclosed in a statement issued on September 28, 2026, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bologi Ibrahim.
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